S.Scripture | “So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone…” Ephesians 2:19–20
O.Observation | The high place of Jesus as our Savior can sometimes lower the place of scripture regarding other works of God and teachings. For example, many Christians who devote themselves to scripture neglect the old testament. Some neglect to leave the gospels at all. I heard one seasoned believer say this is why he prefers not to have a red letter bible (those that make all of Jesus’ words red). He said, “because all scripture is breathed out by God, not just the Word’s that Jesus spoke.”
Here in Ephesians we are taught the high and necessary place of both Jesus as cornerstone and the Old Testament (the “prophets”) along with all of the New Testament (the “apostles”). God’s illustration is beautiful and perfect! The building and all other elements collapse without Jesus as the cornerstone, as does our faith and hope. Yet without the rest of scripture the foundation does not exist either. There is no true building of which we are if we truly believe, that is built on anything but God’s Word alone!
A.Application | This is a high view of scripture above all so called wisdom among men. Above all our self helps, medicinal thought altering drugs, psychology, methodology, philosophy etc. Scripture destroys theses in its supreme authority, sufficiency and power! Those who neglect Jesus and His Word turn to broken cisterns, when they ought to repent and return to the living waters of God found in His Word (Jer 2:11-19). Do I have true faith in God’s Word? Do I give it a place of supremacy above all other wisdom in my life?
P.Prayer | Father, let me not neglect Jesus or the rest of His Word both Old and New Testament. Give me a hunger to read more, study more, memorize more, and pray more. That my life would be saturated with the truth of who I am, a wretched sinner saved by grace, and who you are, my God, my King, my Savior, my Master and Lord. That I would fully trust in the sacrifice of Jesus and fully lay down all my thoughts, words and deeds as a living sacrifice of worship. For Your glory alone. Amen.
